Message from CO

Battalion Family Readiness Officer

1st Bn, 11th Marines

“King of Battle”

Dear Friends and Families of 1st Battalion,

Greeting’s from Firebase Fiddler’s Green. The Bat-

talion is well into month three of the deployment and

continues to provide accurate and timely fires for the Division as well as

conduct security and counterinsurgency operations.

The Battalion is still dispersed throughout all of Helmand Province conduct-

ing a variety of missions. The Sergeant Major and I have accumulated quite

a bit of “frequent flier miles” while conducting our command visits and bat-

tlefield circulation. This month we welcomed the arrival of a new rocket

battery, Sierra Battery. Sierra Battery is coming from 5th Battalion and will

be replacing Tango Battery. We wish Tango Battery fair winds and follow-

ing seas as they’ve concluded a very successful deployment firing rockets in support of coalition forces.

This month has been very active and the temperature in the Province has risen dramatically. Bravo

Battery continues to conduct disrupting operations in the vicinity of Fiddler’s Green as well as fire artillery

in support of their infantry and reconnaissance brethren. Lima Battery continues to provide close and con-

tinuous cannon fires from two locations in support of operations in northern and southern Helmand. Lima’s

southern platoon is over 120 miles from its northern platoon. India Battery continues to secure the Kajaki

Dam and conducts disrupting operations in the vicinity of the Dam. India is fully settled into their mission

after taking over from the British. They have made significant improvements in the security and within the

camp. The Battalion’s Police Mentor Team has also made significant improvements in the discipline and

overall capability of the Afghan Uniform Police in the Kajaki District. Finally, Headquarters Battery pro-

vides security for Firebase Fiddler’s Green as well as supports the firing units and radar sections. Elements

of Headquarters Battery have travelled often in support of combat logistic patrols and have also enhanced its

command and control capabilities by employing a Battalion Forward Combat Operations Center.

The Sergeant Major and I have focused on ensuring the men

are keeping an eye out for complacency. As we go around and see

the different units, we stress the importance of every Marine and

Sailor accomplishing their tasks, no matter how small, to the best of

their ability.

Once again, thank you for your sacrifices that you make al-

lowing the men to focus on their mission. God Bless and Semper Fi-

delis.

Cobra 6

In this issue:

Message from the CO

Message from SgtMaj

Battery updates

July 1, 2010

Volume 2, Issue 3

From the Sergeant Major Friends and families of 1/11

I am happy to report that another month as come and gone. Not only are we excited about

counting down the days, but also excited because July was rough month weather wise. The

temperature has cooled down from the mid 120s to the mild 100s.

As we get closer to the half way point the Marines and Sailors are not only motivated about

coming home soon, but we still feel like it is our duty to complete the task at hand. Even

though we have completed several projects to include repairing canals for farmers, building

wells for families and handing out shoes to children. There is still much work to do and the

Marines and Sailors of 1/11 are willing to complete that work.

I want to acknowledge the hard work being done by our 1/11 Police Mentor Team (PMT).

1stLt Cooper and GySgt Liles are the leaders of a unit consisting of 18 members and they are

doing an outstanding job. This group of Marines and Sailors main focus is mentoring mem-

bers of Afghan National Police (ANP) and aiding in developing key programs such as train-

ing, education and community outreach. The ANP is the primary national police force in Afghanistan and serves as a single law

enforcement agency all across the country. The teacher-student relationship between the PMT and ANP is a very important process

to the development and growth of the ANP. Good job motivators and keep up the good work!

Congratulations to the following Marines on their promotions in the month of July:

Sgt Hotaling

Cpl’s Beam, Dick, Finnigan, McCarthy, McCaw, Metcalf, Pazdzior, Ulrich, Villarreal

LCpl’s Diebolt, Lee, May, Menna, Moorow, Nolan, Nunez, Olinger, Rivera, Wiley

PFC Membreno

Thank you family and friends for your continued support.

Semper Fidelis

SgtMaj Gerald A Saunders Jr.

Dear Family and Friends,

The Marines of the Remain Behind Team (RBT) continue to work hard to sup-

port the battalion during their deployment. Over the last month the Marines and spouses of 1/11 have completed numerous fund

raisers for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in December. We greatly appreciate the help of all the spouses who attended the game

shows and the car wash in San Juan Capistrano. Your contributions will go a long way in reducing the costs of the ball for our for-

ward deployed Marines and their families.

Over the last couple of months 12 Marines from the RBT worked hard to finish their pre-deployment training, and have finally

joined the battalion in country. Their arrival was

highly anticipated and they are already making an im-

pact on mission accomplishment for the battalion.

As we move forward the RBT will continue to prepare

for the battalion’s return to Las Pulgas. We will also

continue supporting the Family Readiness Officer and

her numerous activities for families while their Marines

and Sailors are deployed. If you need any assistance

from the RBT do not hesitate to give us a call.

Semper Fidelis

Capt Marcus Cornelius, USMC

Remain Behind Team

The Special 4th of July meal with the senior Officers serving

chow. From left to right, Maj Grabow Battalion Operations

Officer, Maj Everly Battalion Executive Officer, Capt

McNair HQ’s Battery CO, and Capt Robinson Bravo Battery

CO who is refusing to eat his vegetables.

Lead Story: Mail, mail, and more mail !

Work nearly stops every time a resup-

ply convoy comes on to Fiddler's Green

as every Marine and Sailor on camp

becomes focused on the possibility of

receiving a care package or letter from

those of you back home. The average

travel time for care packages varies be-

tween 2-4 weeks as they move from the

other side of the world to our home

away from home here in Afghanistan,

but the contents of these packages vary

even more.

One of the more common items

seen in these packages is powdered pro-

tein or nutritional supplements. Every-

one here seems to think they are going

to go home looking like Brock Lesner

or Hulk Hogan. More unique items

make their way into the packages as

well. One Marine even received an in-

flatable pool complete with "floaties"

and water pistols. Other packages are

more simple with just basic necessities

and snacks. Anything dry and in its

original packaging makes the trip fairly

well. The glass bottles of Tapatio

don't.

With no PX here on Fiddler's

Green, these packages are sometimes

our only way to receive our favorite

snacks or luxuries we enjoyed back in

the states. Thank you to everyone

back home for the support. In a

day of email and video conferenc-

ing, it can be easy to question just

how important mail can be. Well

let me tell you, once you see a Ma-

rine pick up a care package ad-

dressed to him with heart stickers

all over it, you won't question it

any more. Keep 'em coming!

Capt David Gilliland

Executive Officer

Headquarters Battery

CO’s CORNER: Capt Tavis McNair USMC

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from Afghanistan! July has come and gone in

a flash. As my last two newsletters have alluded to the

temperatures here are now at their highest. But thanks to

two months of acclimation the Marines are able to spend

longer outside than when we first arrived and the tempera-

ture was 20deg cooler. If you ever wonder why your Ma-

rine loves green landscapes, water, and moderate tempera-

tures this is the reason why.

We are almost at the half-way point of the deployment

and everyone has settled into their routine. As my XO

described in the above story mail is one of the greatest

things you can send your Marine. Even senior Marines

look like a kid at Christmas when they get a care package.

Keep communicating by whatever means you can. Once

we get over the midway hump we’ll be on the downhill

slide to coming back home.

Semper Fidelis

Capt Tavis McNair USMC A sunset….somewhere in Afghanistan.

HQ’s Battery Security Platoon escorts a supply

convoy

A view of the sunset through the window

of a MAT-V